New Jersey Injury Lawyers for Oil Rig Workers

Oil Rig Worker Injury Attorneys in Clark, NJ Handling Complex Offshore Injury Cases in Essex County, Hudson County, Middlesex County, Union County, and Throughout NJ

From major explosions to toxic exposures, falls, and deck accidents, numerous injuries occur on oil rigs. The complexity of figuring out what benefits workers may be entitled to and how to move forward with a claim can add to the stress of a work injury. Through it all, the New Jersey injury lawyers for oil rig workers at Team Law are committed to securing maximum benefits for you. 

If you’re ready to get started, we’re ready to evaluate your case and begin building your claim for success. Contact us today for immediate assistance with your work injury claim.

Types of Offshore Oil Rig Accidents 

With the risks that go along with working on an offshore oil rig, the accidents and injuries that can occur in these work environments are numerous. Examples of the types of accidents you might sustain on the job include: 

• Fires
• Explosions
• Drilling blowouts 
• Hydraulic line ruptures 
• Exposures to leaks of toxic chemicals, oil leaks, or gas leaks 
• Equipment failures and malfunctions 
• Crush injuries due to falling objects 
• Electrocutions 
• Drowning when oil rig workers fall from platforms or vessels 
• Vehicle collisions 
• Slips, trips, and falls, including falls from heights 
• Overexertion and repetitive stress injuries

Determining and documenting the cause of the accident is important for the success of your work injury claim. Not only does this documentation establish that your injury was, in fact, work-related, but an investigation can also reveal whether you have grounds to seek compensation from any negligent third party outside of your workers’ comp claim through your employer. 

Legal Rights to Benefits for Injured Oil Rig Workers in New Jersey

When you get hurt on the job, laws and regulations generally provide for benefits that can contribute to your physical recuperation and financial restoration. Although most New Jersey workers are eligible for such benefits through the state’s workers’ compensation system, maritime workers are typically covered under federal laws instead. 

Protections for Oil Rig Workers Under Federal Law 

Depending on the specific facts of your employment, you may be eligible for benefits from one of a few different laws. 

The Jones Act, otherwise known as the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, generally applies to workers considered to be seamen. To qualify for coverage under this federal law, you would need to spend significant time working on sea-going vessels, a classification which may, in some instances, include mobile oil rigs, such as jack-up rigs. 

Not all oil rigs constitute sea-going vessels, which means not all offshore oil rig workers are covered under the Jones Act. In instances in which your work on an oil rig isn’t covered under the Jones Act, you would likely be covered by the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) instead. The Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act is an extension of the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA), which covers an array of maritime workers who do not constitute masters or members of vessels or their crews. To qualify for coverage under the OCSLA, you would generally need to have been working offshore in the area that constitutes the Outer Continental Shelf and engaged in tasks such as developing, removing, or transporting natural resources when the injury occurred. In some instances, an oil rig worker may not be covered under the OCSLA but instead eligible for benefits under the LHWCA. 

Determining which federal law applies to your unique situation requires extensive knowledge of the nuances of the Jones Act, the LHWCA, and the OCSLA. Team Law’s New Jersey injury lawyers for oil rig workers can evaluate all the facts and determine how to proceed with a claim for the compensation you deserve. 

Coverage for Your Medical and Financial Needs 

Despite using different terminology, these federal acts offer generally similar benefits to injured workers. The Jones Act provides “cure” benefits, or the right to medical costs. The LHWCA and the OCSLA include medical benefits. 

Generally, the medical benefits provided under both acts will cover your tests, treatments, medication, doctor and hospital bills, and any medical equipment, such as a wheelchair. 

You can also seek compensation when you’re unable to work due to an injury. Seamen can recover benefits for unearned wages during the time they are not fit to return to work under the Jones Act. The LHWCA and the OCSLA cover temporary total disability, temporary partial disability, permanent total disability, and permanent partial disability. 

Additional Compensation Under the Jones Act

The Jones Act provides injured seamen, including some offshore oil rig workers, with additional benefits not granted under the LHWCA and the OCSLA. “Maintenance” benefits under the Jones Act encompass daily living expenses, such as your food, rent, and utilities, so you can live on land in the same manner you lived on the oil rig. 

Additionally, while workers generally can’t sue their own employers under the LHWCA or the OCSLA, injured seamen may be able to sue their employers if negligence or unseaworthiness of the vessel caused their injuries. Such a claim may provide additional compensation beyond the cure and maintenance benefits and unearned wages available in all Jones Act claims. 

How Team Law Can Help Injured Offshore Oil Rig Workers

One thing is sure: work injury claims involving oil rig workers can get complicated. Determining whether you’re covered under the Jones Act, the LHWCA, or the OCSLA is just the first step. You also need to: 

• Document the work-related cause of the injury
• Identify any cause for negligence claims, whether against your employer in the case of a Jones Act claim for unseaworthiness or against a third party in an LHWCA claim
• Meet all deadlines and procedural requirements of the appropriate claims process
• Thoroughly document your injuries, medical care, and extent of disability 
• Negotiate a settlement agreement with the employer or insurance company
• Potentially overcome challenges, such as disputes about the facts of your case or claims denials 

Team Law’s oil rig worker injury attorneys in Clark, NJ, know how overwhelming this demanding process can be when you’re trying to recover from serious injuries. We handle every aspect of our clients’ claims and fight for the full benefits and compensation they’re entitled to. 

Why Choose Team Law as Your New Jersey Injury Lawyers for Oil Rig Workers

Team Law’s oil rig worker injury attorneys in Clark, NJ, bring to every case: 

• Extensive experience: For 60+ years, Team Law has built a reputation for excellence in legal practice throughout NJ. We’ll draw on our decades of experience to get you the maximum benefits available to you. 
• Dedication to helping people: At Team Law, we fight for people, not corporations. To get you the compensation you deserve, we’re prepared to stand up to employers, ship owners, insurance companies, the manufacturers of defective equipment, and more.
• A record of successful results: Our team consistently secures results for injured victims in a variety of legal matters. To date, we have recovered more than $650 million for our injured clients. 
• Quality legal representation at no upfront cost: Hiring professional legal assistance doesn’t have to add to your financial stress. Team Law assists injured workers at no upfront cost. 

Contact New Jersey Injury Lawyers for Oil Rig Workers at Team Law Today for a Free Case Evaluation

It’s time to bring in professional assistance to ensure you’re getting the compensation you deserve. 

For help from oil rig worker injury attorneys in Clark, NJ, contact Team Law online or call us today.

Frequently Asked Questions About Oil Rig Worker Injury Claims in New Jersey